We all know that frustrating feeling of being blocked; of being in a place where you feel stuck, lost or confused about where you’re at on your journey. There’s that niggling feeling that something needs to change,but you don’t quite know what it is yet. Or, perhaps you already know what needs to change, but you’re too scared to take action. Time and time again, you come across road blocks that stop you from making any progress, even when you think you’re doing everything in your power to try and move forward.

The key to removing these blocks?

Being real.

The definition of real, according to the dictionary is: not imitation or artificial; genuine.

Now, can you honestly say that right now, you are being 100% real? If you’re feeling blocked at all – in any area of your life – then it’s very likely that you’re not (even if you think you are). Let’s explore this a little further, while I give you examples of how you can be real, and in the process, remove those nasty blocks!

1. Who are you, really?

Ask yourself this question and be brutally honest. Try not to use labels or words that describe what you do, because you are so much more than that. You may be a parent or a teacher, follow a certain religion or be part of a sporting team, but once again, you are more than that, too. This question needs to be answered on a soul level. Who are you, in all your entirety?

2. What are you passionate about?

What gives you that warm, fuzzy, excited feeling inside? What could you talk about for hours on end? Is there something that you just want to know more and more about? Are you actively doing something about this passion, or do you see it as just a dream?

3. What are you not saying?

What are the things that you’re not speaking up about? Are you bottling up unexpressed feelings or not talking about your true beliefs out of fear of judgment? Is there something that you know deep down needs to be said? Ask yourself why you aren’t speaking your truth.

4. Are all of your relationships (family included) healthy and do you have clear boundaries in place? Do you let others treat you poorly or do they have unrealistic expectations of you? Are there people in your life with whom you walk on eggshells just to keep the peace?

Do you feel comfortable being yourself around these people? It may be time to reconsider who is on this journey with you, and whether or not they have a role in your life that serves your highest good. It’s okay to remove toxic people from your life. Yes, even family. In cases where you simply must maintain contact with family members, you can still cut the energetic cords between you.

5. Are you happy with your job?

Your job, career, study plans, day to day routine… whatever you want to call it based on your own situation, you always have a choice. If you’re unhappy getting up every morning because you don’t genuinely look forward to your day each day, then something’s got to change. Again, it may be an expectation of others that you ‘keep at it’, but does that fulfil your needs, or theirs?

6. What are you afraid of?

I’m not going to give you the whole, “fear is just a thought” lecture, because everyone knows that already, and if you’re genuinely feeling fearful, then compassion is what is needed. I will let you know however, that whatever your fears are, you can and will overcome them, if you make the conscious decision to do so. There is always support out there and people willing to help you to face this fear, so when you’re ready, ask for help- it’s one of the most courageous things you can do. And, for those of you whose fear is the unknown, please know this. The unknown is where the real magic happens. True story.

7. What or who do you need to let go of?

The possible answers to this question are endless – relationships (of any kind), patterns of behaviour, pain from the past, guilt, regret, unhealthy thoughts and environments… you get my drift. It simply must be done if you want to live authentically. The key to letting go however, is not just saying, “ok I let go of this, this and that”. You have to be brutally honest with yourself and truly, wholeheartedly, Let. It. The. Fuck. Go. Letting go means that it is gone; never to return, never to be dwelled over or engaged in again. If you’re not ready to confront something, then you’re not ready to release it.

8. Do you love yourself? I mean really, truly love very aspect of yourself? When you look in the mirror, do you stand there proudly, knowing you are your whole, beautiful damn self? When you talk about yourself to others, or to yourself, are you positive and speak about yourself with love? Do you hold your head high and face the world with eyes wide open? Do you truly believe that you are deserving of love, respect, and greatness? Do you recognise how powerful you are and allow yourself to use it?

9. What do you feel is missing from your life?

I’m not talking about a new car, a massive house, or some piece of jewellery here. I’m talking about asking yourself what you feel is missing on a soul level. What do you yearn for? What keeps drawing you in? That ache in your heart, the missing puzzle piece- what is it? And why aren’t you doing everything in your power to go after it?

10. Are you ready to embrace change? What are you willing to do about all of the above? Being your real, unfiltered self takes courage, because not everyone is going to like being confronted with such a powerful, authentic being (it’s their problem, not yours, by the way, and they’re probably wishing they could be as brave as you).

If you want to remove your blocks, start with these questions. I guarantee you, that if you’re courageous enough (which I know you are) to address even one of these questions, you’ll begin to notice those heavy, confusing blocks lifting away, as if by magic.

You’ve got this. All you need to do, is be who you really are.

Christie is a Lightworker, publisher, and writer, and is the founder and director of White Light Universal.

Christie prides herself on being authentic and seeing the light and love in everyone she meets, and this shines through in both the healing and guidance she provides for her clients, as well as helping writers’ and artists’ publishing dreams come true.

Her passions are writing, mental health, children’s rights, and playing a part in healing humanity.

Everywhere on social media (and in person) I keep reading how atrocious 2016 has been for people, and how they can’t wait for the year to be over. To be honest, it saddens and frustrates me.
There are a few reasons for this.

What makes everyone think that once 31st December is over, that their life is miraculously going to change? What we should be asking is “what am I doing NOW to change my life?”

Leading in from my first point, why wait until 1st January to make changes in your life or strive for happiness/success/better health? To me, it just seems crazy. If you’re so unhappy right now, then ask yourself what you need to do to change this now, not next year.

We are in a 9 year numerologically, so yes, 2016 has been a year of endings and basically, dealing with all of our ‘shit’ so that we don’t keep repeating it in the next 9 year cycle. The thing is, if you’ve continually put off dealing with all your past stuff and been too scared to confront those repetitive situations you keep finding yourself in year after year, then this year was a year where the universe has pushed you to deal with it all once and for all. If you’ve refused to acknowledge all of this for yourself, then clicking over to 2017 is not going to change a thing. You’ve been pushed and tested for a reason, and if you can’t yet see what it has taught you, or how much you have grown from it (which in turn, would see you being grateful for having been through it), then you likely still have more inner work to do.

I’ve had my fair share of challenges this year myself, but I’ve also had some amazing things happen for me too. The difference is however, with the challenges I’ve been confronted with, I am fortunately in a state of mind where I can truly appreciate ALL of it. Yes, even the ‘negative’ stuff, because ultimately, they have taught me lessons and helped me to grow.

The constant focus on how horrible a year 2016 has been for everyone seems to be a counterproductive behaviour. If you’re continually putting it out there about how hard you’ve had it, how negative things have been, etc etc, then aren’t you then attracting the very things you DON’T want into your life? It’s called the Law of Attraction, and unless you change your outlook on life and all that you’ve experienced (both negative and positive) throughout 2016, then you may just find that these things continue into the new year.

Some of the experiences you may have had in 2016 may have not even been to do with your own life journey; perhaps they happened for someone else’s soul growth or life plan. But it’s important to look at everything that has occurred throughout 2016 as either a blessing or a lesson (which in my opinion, is also a blessing).

Think about how much you’ve learnt about yourself this year.

How much stronger you are.

How the universe has stepped in to remove all that no longer has a place on your journey.

That you’ve been forced to confront your past so you can move forward and heal.

That you’ve been pushed by Spirit to get back on track and live a life of personal truth.

How about we all start flooding social media with all the things we have been blessed with and are grateful for throughout this past year? Then maybe, just maybe, 2017 will be filled with joy, positivity and success because that’s what we’re attracting into our lives. In fact, let’s get that ripple effect going, if you want it to, it can happen RIGHT NOW; not at 12.01 on 1st January?

Thank you for everything 2016.

Thank you for the lessons; even the really tough lessons that helped me grow as a person. Thank you for the joy and blessings you allowed me to experience. I am grateful for every moment.

I am asked on occasion, just how I get the information I do when providing a reading and how it all works.

When giving readings, I first ask Spirit to provide me with guidance on how I can best help the person I am reading for, and ask them to give me the answers to what you most need to know right now. These messages may come from my Spirit Guides or yours, or from loved ones on the Other Side. Alternatively, guidance may come through from other entities (eg Ascended Masters, Angels). In addition to intuited guidance, I may use just one, or a mixture of different cards, or I may not use cards at all. The majority of the , guidance in a reading is provided intuitively and is channelled directly from Spirit.

Most of the messages I receive from Spirit come to me as words, names or images/visions (clairaudience and clairvoyance), and quite often through a ‘knowing’ (claircognizance). I also at times use automatic writing as a way of receiving direct communication from Spirit.

I am always more than happy to elaborate or explain things further should there be any information in a reading that isn’t understood. I also welcome questions after someone receives a reading, because at times, something may come up that prompts questioning from my clients. I never charge people for this; it’s all part of the service.

I do not sugarcoat information that comes to me in a reading (pretending that everything is just butterflies and rainbows) however I do make sure I am respectful and compassionate when passing on sensitive information. Quite often, if someone has requested a reading, it’s because there is something challenging happening in their life at the time, and so more often than not, sensitivity and empathy is necessary.

Another thing I’ll add, for those of you that decide to have a face to face reading, is that quite often I’ll pick up on your energy while reading for you, or the energy of a loved one in spirit, and so if I start crying, that’s why. Sometimes the emotional energy is quite overwhelming and I feel this energy quite strongly. It might be an overwhelming feeling of love from someone in spirit, or it may be the feeling of relief from being connected to a loved one. Whatever it is, know that this energy is shared with me to help me connect with you on such a deep level.

If you ever have any questions about how I provide readings, please feel free to ask me at any time.

As anyone who’s an Empath knows, it’s not always easy. Nor is being a parent; but when you combine the two, it can be mayhem! Of course, being both a Mum and an Empath has its rewards too.

For anyone who isn’t familiar with the term Empath, here is a brief description (you may just find yourself reading this and having an ‘aha’ moment).

An Empath is someone who feels and takes on the emotions and energy of other people, situations and environments. This is not just empathy, but fully feeling these emotions and energy as if they were your very own. Empaths also have a ‘knowing’ that goes beyond gut feelings or intuition.

So, you can probably imagine that in addition to the everyday challenges that being a parent entails, adding this gift to the mix certainly makes for an interesting experience day in, day out.

Don’t get me wrong; being an Empath as a mother gives me some wonderful advantages. Having this ‘knowing’ means that I’m able to relate to my children on such a unique level, and the majority of the time, I needn’t even ask what’s wrong because I just ‘know’. Even if there’s not necessarily anything amiss with one of my children, I still know exactly what they need at any given time; whether it means they’re getting sick or just need to snuggle for a while.

For example, my two year old who isn’t quite verbal as yet, can simply look at me and most of the time, I know exactly what he needs or wants without trying to figure it out by questioning him. Sometimes, I’m even onto it before he is!

The difficult side to this gift is being able to feel my children’s emotions as my own when it becomes overwhelming for me. As everyone does, we all have challenges in life to deal with, and emotions of our own to understand and process, but when you add three more little people’s emotions to this, it can become quite daunting and make you feel like you’re carrying around the weight of the world. For example, if my teenager is feeling all hormonal and confused about his world, I feel it too. If my baby girl feels genuinely heartbroken because Dad just left to go to work, I feel it too. You get the gist…

At times, I’ve felt like just curling up in a ball and crying, and that’s okay, because it is a very overwhelming gift to have. But at the same time, I am extremely blessed to be able to share this wonderfully deep connection with my children. Once I was aware of what it means to be an Empath, and learnt more about it, things started to become much easier, and I now see this gift in a whole new light.

There are likely many, many parents out there who can completely relate to what I’m describing, and I want you to know that you’re not alone; and you’re certainly not crazy (even though at times, it may feel that way)! Being an Empath can be challenging and painful at the best of times, but when you’re a parent as well, and don’t know how to manage this gift, your heart and mind can get quite messy indeed.

But, once you have the awareness, and the tools to properly manage everything that being an Empath entails, you will quickly realise just how very special a gift it is, and why you’ve been blessed with it. It’s not always easy, but the rewards that come with this gift far outweigh the challenges.

I am more than happy to connect with anyone who would like to chat about this further, or who would simply like to share their experiences of being an Empath parent. I can be contacted through either of my Facebook pages here:

Last night, I received a message on my Facebook page from someone, and her words really stuck out to me for several reasons; one of them being that she had just confirmed for me that I am 100% on the right path in life.

Her message simply read:

“I don’t think I’ve every met a psychic so willing to help people. You’re the real deal.”

I sat there for a moment, pondering what this meant, and why it touched me so deeply.

The first thing I did was smile from ear to ear with gratitude, and I was quick to respond to her that I am just human, like everyone else, and that I do the work I do to help people; not to get rich. As someone who is offering guidance to others, while I need to earn a living, I still genuinely care about everyone’s well being, and my compassion and love for helping others isn’t just limited to doing so through paid services. That’s not what being a lightworker is about; not in my opinion, anyway. The reason for this person contacting me in the first place actually had nothing to do with readings or spiritual awareness. And again, just because someone may contact me about an issue, doesn’t mean I’m going to automatically try and promote my services either. If I know I’m in a position to help someone based on a shared life experience, or because I have the tools and knowledge to help another person to evolve, I’m more than happy to help out. Why would I limit my reach for helping others by putting a price on everything? To me, that’s just silly.

On the other side of things, of course, I don’t want to be taken advantage of either, and that’s why I limit any free readings I offer to people, because I’m a realist; I know it does happen. However, providing paid services for people is very different to simply lending a listening ear, or doing what I can to guide someone in a positive direction. Gee, even when I do a reading for someone, I’m always more than happy to elaborate or provide further guidance and tools if my client wishes. A reading shouldn’t end with “OK, your hour’s up, I’m done.” Again, that’s my opinion, but that’s the way I work anyway.

Every psychic/reader works in different ways, and I respect that, however I see myself as a true lightworker, and this beautiful person who messaged me last night, helped me to truly appreciate this within myself. I’m not just a “psychic” or someone who reads for other people.

I am a lightworker. I genuinely care about others, and my mission is to bring more light into the world.

I knew that visiting this amazing country was going to be a trip of a lifetime, but I never really imagined that I would learn as much as I did; about the Nepali culture, about religion, about humanity, but most of all, I realised that my spiritual growth is still expanding day by day. I’ve mentioned in a previous blog post about just how genuine and kind the people of Nepal are, and this is something that will remain ingrained in my memory and heart forever. But it’s not just the people; its the natural wonders of Nepal, and the powerful energy that is felt here. I have never experienced anything like it, and I hope to hold onto that feeling for a very long time; long after I’ve returned home. If I could bottle the energy of being here, I would, so I could share it with everyone I know.

Our last few days in Nepal were spent with magnificent views of the Himalayas (both from our hotel balcony, and from the air), taking in sunrises and sunsets, and sharing stories with locals. We visited a few more Buddhist temples (including the World Peace Pagoda and Swayambhunath), and I must say that the Buddhist philosophy strongly resonates with my own values and beliefs. It is something that I intend on delving deeper into once I get home.

It was sad to say goodbye to Nepal, but I know that I am forever changed from the experience that the Nepali people have given me. See you again one day!Namaste

I have had some wonderful discussions with many local people here in Nepal, and each and every one I speak with, has me nodding my head, and saying, “Yes!”

The Nepali people have life all figured out.

Even after the devastation that they have experienced less than a year ago, with the massive earthquake that has left so many people homeless, and having lost loved ones, they are nothing but happy, kindhearted, and genuinely grateful for everything they have.

The streets and traffic are insane, with not a road rule seeming to be in existence, yet we have not seen one person get angry, impatient, or frustrated. Drivers remain calm, and are so patient with one another, that there doesn’t ever seem to be an issue. We spoke with one of the taxi drivers about this, and he explained that while people may be in a rush to get from here to there, so is everyone else, and there’s no point in getting angry at each other. From what we have seen on the roads, the Nepali people just want to get on with their day, but also make sure they are looking out for one another.

The earthquakes in April and May have brought the Nepali people together in so many ways, and through so much sadness and loss, they’ve managed to pull together to help one another rebuild homes, and lend each other a helping hand in any way they can; whether it means financially supporting one another, providing food and blankets, or just being there for each other. From what I have seen and heard from the many stories told by locals, the people of Nepal were already a very kind and supportive people, but now, more than ever, the devastation they experienced as a nation, has just amplified their beautiful nature, and they seem to truly understand the meaning of humanity as a whole.

I truly believe that every person could learn a thing or two from the beautiful people of Nepal. Many of us seem to forget and take for granted some of the small things in life that may seem minor to us, but are extremely important here. Things like acknowledging one another in the street, not judging another based on appearance, culture, beliefs or life choices. Things like having enough food every day, having clean drinking water, or access to petrol to get around. Having somewhere to sleep at night, or clothes to wear. Having someone you can talk to when you need support. Having your loved ones alive and healthy. Children having access to education, or at the very least, someone to care for them.

Every single person I have met here; whether it be in conversation, or just a hello along the street, has been friendly, has a smile for me and a heartfelt “Namaste”, which is not only spoken, but is a genuine energy exchanged between two people. When I hand someone extra rupees because I feel as though they deserve more than what they’ve asked for selling me something, or for their wonderful service, they are genuinely grateful and it shows in their eyes. When I tell someone there’s no need to be ‘sorry’ or to treat me any differently because they somehow feel that I expect them to cater to my every need because I’m a tourist, they breathe a sigh of relief, and I can feel a knowing between us. A knowing that we understand one another as fellow human beings who are equal.

Our tour guide Yagya, said something beautiful the first day we met him; “I am not perfect. Life is about learning. Some things I know more than you, some things you know more than me. We are here to learn from each other.” That, we are. If we could only all begin by adopting the simple, yet powerful practice of the Nepali people in sharing a genuine “Namaste” to one another, the world may be a different place.

Namaste: “I honour the place in you where the universe resides. When I am in that place in me, and you are in that place in you, there is only one of us.”

The word, “Namaste” contains a word “Nama” which means “negating or reducing one’s ego in the presence of another”. Meaning, when people greet each other with “Namaste” they accept their existence.

When two people greet each other by joining their ten fingers, a vibe is produced, and when a person closes his/her eyes, and bow their head before another person, an energy is developed from heart – to – head. And finally, exerted through his/her head. This energy links one person to another, and every time it is done, an honour is developed; respect is created.

Namaste can elevate one’s consciousness, reminding us that all beings, all existence, is sacred. It also tends to draw an individual inward for a moment; inspiring reflection on deeper realities, and softens the interface between two people.

If we could reach a time and place where we all genuinely practice ‘Namaste’ to our fellow human beings, we could very well be much closer to achieving peace in the world.